Director - James Gunn,
Starring – Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler & Kevin Bacon.
James Gunn takes on the surprisingly popular fusion genre of the low budget independent comic book style film, especially after the critical and commercial acclaim of Defendor and Kick-Ass, we see a talented and familiar cast comprising of the likes of Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page spearhead this independent project from superfluous into superior.
We are thrown straight into the film, in fact we wake up with Wilson’s Frank D’Arbo. A seemingly credulous and dull man yet content and rather happy. Equilibrium destroyed, his wife has left him and a rather crafty looking character played by Kevin Bacon enters the frame, by knocking on his back door. Firstly for his absent wife, then a share of his breakfast.
The film follows with a series of events that are rather predictable, however the acting talents of the ensemble repeatedly impress. The script is very neat and allows for a simple story to move in a rather enticing fashion. You cannot help but fall in love with some of the characters, even the ones that are the associates of the antagonist’s.
One of the highlights of the films, would be Ellen Page’s performance. Still at a young age, if she chooses her roles and directors well, she will be destined for recognition amongst the finer talents of her generation. Some of her roles such as her industrious and wily Hayley Stark in Hard Candy truly show the nuances of her talents. Her performance in Super is of a caricature, but her comedic timing and innate enthusiastic semiotics make her a very likable and more importantly make her very pivotal in the later parts of the story.
Ultimately the entire cast hold their own. Everyone is suited to their roles and perform diligently, however the mediocrity of the plot can be the films downfall. The film ostensibly hides away from its indie roots with seemingly expensive special effects. The cast perform, the story is very well-paced and enjoyable and the script is on point. This film is a series of laughter interrupted and dragged down by its characters own poor sense of morality. Silly, Superfluously Soppy but Side-splittingly Super!
Icarus Conran is a freelance journalist with experience in writing and editing. To get in touch please contact via
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